Bridge: December 17, 2012

Cy the Cynic says that people will forget how fast you did a job but never how well you did it.

Today's declarer played as if he wanted to get the deal over with quickly. Against four spades West led a club, and South took his ace and started to think. Before long, he ruffed a club, cashed dummy's king of trumps and ace of diamonds, and overtook the queen of trumps with the ace.

South then drew the last trump and led the jack of diamonds. When West discarded, dummy played low. East took the queen and led a club to West, and a heart shift gave the defense two more tricks. Down one.

HURRY

Assuming you weren't in such a hurry, how would you handle the play?

South should take his time -- and refuse the first trick! If East returns a club, South ruffs in dummy, draws trumps and attacks the diamonds. When East takes the queen, he can only cash the ace of hearts to hold South to 10 tricks. If instead East leads a club, South can win and run the diamonds, making five.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: ♠ A J 9 3 2 ♥ 8 3 ♦ J 5 3 ♣ A 4 3. Your partner opens one heart, you bid one spade and he rebids three hearts. What do you say?

ANSWER: Partner's jump-rebid promises about 16 high-card points with a good six-card suit, hence you have the values to go on. A rebid of three spades would be forcing but unnecessary; you have an eight-card heart fit. A bid of 3NT might work, but since you have prime values and weakness in diamonds, bid four hearts.